The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) urged the heads of supply chain and procurement officers to engage the media to foster public perception of procurement.
MCK CEO David Omwoyo told heads of procurement meeting in Mombasa that sharing information with the media greatly contributes to transparency of procurement processes.
“The procurement industry can enhance communication by simplifying complex data and actively engaging the media. Building relationships and engaging with the media is one effective way of actually bringing credibility and strengthening authenticity of your message”, he said.
He advised the officers to build relationships with the media through workshops and capacity building to promote collaboration, saying that lack of information would lead to speculation in the media.
“Good relationships with the media are key when positioning your organisation and fostering relevance. Many organisations fail to capitalise on existing coverage and miss opportunities to gain more publicity”, said Mr Omwoyo at the engagement organised by the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management.
Mr Omwoyo urged officers to adopt technology and create a transparent information ecosystem on procurement through digital platforms.
“Striking a balance between confidentiality and transparency in procurement is vital for trust, compliance and sharing the necessary information with the public”, he said.